DIVING AROUND NUSA PENIDA AND NUSA LEMBONGAN

Easily accessed by day boat from Padang Bai, the Lombok Strait islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan offer a great chance to see Manta rays all year round and Mola-Molas (July – September). Due to the currents, these day trips are reserved for more experienced divers.

Here are some of our favourite dive sites around the islands.

Manta Point

This cleaning station offers an unparalleled opportunity to see these gentle giants up close. Manta Point is actually a rock that emerges just a short distance from the cliffs on the south side of the island.

Manta rays come here to be cleaned and feed on the rich plankton. Divers can often watch groups of mantas approaching, then circling in the area whilst smaller fish clean them, before heading off again.

Crystal Bay

During Mola-Mola season (July – September), this is the place to see the giant oceanic sunfish, which can be up to 3 metres in size.

Sunfish normally live in much deeper waters, but during the season they come close to the surface - between 40 and 15 metres - to get cleaned by other species, which in turn feed on the bacteria on the skin of the sunfish.

Sental / S.D.

Around the north of the island are a number of relatively fast drift dive sites, where divers can ‘fly past’ abundant marine life, enjoying the rich, healthy coral reefs whilst literally admiring the view.